When a teenage girl disappears from a London suburb, the police want to question cult leader Nigel Tapster. But when Tapster is murdered during a church service, they face a different question: What holy terror slipped strychnine into the sacraments?The engaging cast of characters from Alan Beechey's acclaimed first novel returns for another devilish and entertaining mysteWhen a teenage girl disappears from a London suburb, the police want to question cult leader Nigel Tapster. But when Tapster is murdered during a church service, they face a different question: What holy terror slipped strychnine into the sacraments?The engaging cast of characters from Alan Beechey's acclaimed first novel returns for another devilish and entertaining mystery....

Title

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Murdering Ministers: An Oliver Swithin Mystery

Author

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Alan Beechey

Rating

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ISBN

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9780312209025

Format Type

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Hardcover

Number of Pages

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352 Pages

Status

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Available For Download

Last checked

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21 Minutes ago!

Murdering Ministers: An Oliver Swithin Mystery Reviews

Kate2019-02-26 07:59

"Oliver Swithin, creator of the notorious 'Finsbury the Ferret' series of children's books, has been commissioned to write a satirical article on modern religious practices from the point of view of his atheist ferret character. With Christmas approaching, Oliver and his friend, photographer Ben Motley, attend an evening service at a dowdy United Diaconalist church in a north London suburb, chosen by the publisher to represent the English 'low church' tradition."Oliver is surprised to discover that the minister of the church is an old school friend, the Reverend Paul Piltdown. Piltdown soon confides to them that the recent arrival in the congregation of lay preacher Nigel Tapster, whose influence over the young people threatens to create a separate cult, has the church members up in arms."Wondering if Tapster is a better subject for his article, Oliver visits the lay preacher later that week, only to discover that at the previous day's meeting Tapster was surprisingly voted onto the diaconate of the church, replacing long-serving deacon Cedric Potiphar."But the following Su8nday, as Communion wine is passed out, Tapster takes a drink, falls convulsing to the floor, and dies. Having passed the glass to Tapster, Piltdown becomes the main suspect in his poisoning. Both Oliver and his new girlfriend, Detective Sergeant Effie Strongitharm, strongly feel that Piltdown has been wrongly accused and that they must find out who in the congregation had the best motive for revenge."~~front flapI had a hard time getting into this book. In the beginning, nothing seemed to make much sense except the humor. It got better as it went along, but not better enough to make me want to repeat the experience with the preceding book An Embarrassment of Corpses.

Elizabeth2019-03-07 06:45

Oliver Swithin is the author of a series of children's books about a fiendish ferret who torments a small family of railway mice. Although the books are wildly popular Oliver's profits are caught up in a court case so he remains a somewhat impoverished young man who lives simply in a house with a group of housemates who are also friends. The light of his life is a Scotland Yard detective Effy Strongitharm, a quick young woman with wild hair. Effy was his uncle Mallard's subordinate and met Oliver through a previous case.Oliver is writing a story about his ferret and it's association with a fundamentalist church and becomes involved with the murder of a new deacon who doesn't survive to enjoy his new post. The story is magnificent as Beechey brings to life the group of individuals that belong to the church with such humor and wit that I read the book slowly so I could savor every bit of it. I had read this book before and I have been looking in vain for the next in the series on a regular basis. I am sure I will read it again on future Christmases because it was such a joy. The story takes place during the Christmas holiday time so it is a great read for this time of year.

Mary2019-02-25 09:45

Another fun outing with Oliver Swithin and his policewoman girlfriend Effie Strongitharm (obviously the author has had a grand time with the character names). This time Oliver is in a small village doing research for an article to be written from the point of view of one of the characters in his "Railway Mice" series--one Finsbury the Ferret (not a nice character...actually a little on the raunchy side). Of course, murder is bound to happen, and Oliver just has to get involved.Again, a fun outing! I love the characters (odd as they are) and the stories are very amusing.

Susan2019-02-22 05:54

Many people at the small London church thought Nigel Tapster was a dangerous influence, but nonetheless he was elected as a deacon. When he dies in the middle of a communion service, it seems like an impossible crime. No-one could have poisoned the wine. But the person closest to him was the minister, who had quarreled with Nigel just a few days ago. Fortunately, children's book writer Oliver Swithin was an old friend of the minister's and determines to clear his name, with the assistance of his policewoman girlfriend and his uncle, a Scotland Yard bigwig.

George2019-03-18 10:52

Has a basic mystery plot involving a murder and a runaway teen, but is filled with humor and colorful characters making it a fun read. Building on a serious plot line involving an writer researching a story involving a more fundamentalist Christian religious group becomes filled with subplots, colorful characters, and humor.

Jane2019-03-19 05:01

I enjoyed this one a lot, despite the original jolt that the Scotland Yard sergeant has the same surname as some of the dwarf members of the Watch in Terry Pratchett's Discworld - Strongitharm. Once I got past that, the characters got me. The plot is all too believable, but I won't spoil.I will find & read volume 1 in this series, & hope Beechy writes more!

Gabi Coatsworth2019-03-04 04:41

Good fun with some laugh-out-loud moments as our hero, Oliver Swithin, applies himself to helping his girlfriend Effie solve an unusual crime in north London. As usual, the author's erudition and humor make this an entertaining read.

Marie2019-03-11 11:50

A witty fun read

Carolyn2019-03-10 04:41

A number of characters to get to know, but some interesting twists to the two mysteries.

About the author

Alan Beechey - Alan Beechey was born in England and grew up in London. He moved to Manhattan in his twenties and now lives with his three sons and his rescue mutt, Leila, in Rye, New York. This Private Plot is Alan Beechey’s third mystery featuring children’s book author and amateur sleuth Oliver Swithin and his girlfriend, Scotland Yard detective Effie Strongitharm.

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